From the Roof Top

Granny’s Goodies

​When someone mentions the word drug overdose or drug death, most of us naive people think of backrooms filled with dirty needles and “half lit” teenagers stumbling around in the dark. Not so says the Center for Disease Control (CDC).

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The CDC was formed in 1942 and is part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. CDC has been commissioned to provide health alerts to citizens.

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The alert is being heard all throughout the United States as families are losing loved ones rapidly and not by backstreet drugs. These drugs are provided by those whom we trust the most, doctors in control of our health.

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Death and overdose caused by Prescription drugs has steadily and fervently been on the rise and radar since 1999. “During 2015, drug overdoses accounted for 52,404 U.S. deaths (an increase from 47,055 in 2014), including 33,091 (63.1%) that involved an opioid. ”

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We are no longer worried about the “safe drugs” like marijuana that has not even claimed one life, a fact recorded by the CDC.

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We have moved on up to Opioids, Heroin, many prescriptions which are originally prescribed by health care professionals.

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That teenager stereotype that we all have in our heads when we hear about drug overdose is also blown away by the CDC report. “Methadone death rates decreased among males and females overall, but increased among persons aged ≥65 years”. Yes, thats correct. The > symbol means greater than “or equal to 65 years of age.”

The tougher part of this subject is the question we all have “How do we fix it?” Good question. How do we make doctors understand that very few of us, regardless of age, like carrying around a tote filled with drugs prescribed by our doctors. How do we make them understand that prescribing drugs with such serious side effects such as “Death” is not “OK” with us nor is the lesser side effect of addiction which funds the “illegal” supply.

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Stay alert. Be aware of the serious consequences found to be caused by drugs prescribed to you by someone whom you trust, your doctor.

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The CDC has a plan to improve the gathered statistics. Here is their short list: